The Elm Foundation staff and members of the ‘Chat and Chapters’ book club recently enjoyed a memorable day at The Queen’s Reading Room Festival, held in the beautiful grounds of Chatsworth House in Derbyshire. The festival brings together leading authors, readers and community organisations to celebrate the joy and power of reading.
The day was filled with inspiring moments with highlights that included taking part in a book club workshop facilitated by acclaimed crime writer Ann Cleeves, where we all explored our shared love of books and the connections that reading can create.
Book club members also enjoyed hearing powerful personal stories, including a moving discussion about the book that changed one reader’s life. Throughout the day, survivors were encouraged to share their own experiences of reading and reflect on the important role books have play in their wellbeing, recovery and personal identity.
A particularly special moment was the opportunity to meet Her Majesty Queen Camilla, who has long championed the benefits of reading and has supported The Elm Foundation through an ongoing partnership focused on the therapeutic value of books and shared reading. Our thanks go to all at The Queen’s Reading Room and the authors for donating many more beautiful books for us to continue reading.
🍁🍂 As autumn arrives and many of us begin to spend more time indoors, the festival served as a reminder of the comfort, escape and inspiration that can be found in a good book. The Elm Foundation run a monthly book club ‘Chat and Chapters’ that offers survivors a safe and welcoming space to connect with others, discover new books and share a love of reading. All are welcome to come along and join the group.
For more information about joining the book club, please get in touch with us, we would love to hear what you’re reading this autumn? 📚💙
email: [email protected]
Heading photograph courtesy of Hayley Bray (@hayleybrayphoto) • Instagram photos and videos
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